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How to Use Google Analytics

Review our guide below for information on getting set up with Google Analytics, as well as some basic reports information and how to leverage free training from Google and LinkedIn Learning.

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Request and Access Google Analytics

Before you can begin using Google Analytics, complete the steps below to get started.

Content Management System (CMS) Sites

If your site is hosted on Carnegie Mellon's Cascade Content Management System (CMS), follow the steps below to get started:

  1. Request Google Analytics access for your Andrew account.
  2. Once access has been granted, you will receive an email confirmation.
  3. To transfer Google Analytics data from a personal account:
    1. Visit Google Analytics.
    2. Log in with your personal Google email and password.
    3. Click add a person and follow the prompts to add your Andrew email address to your personal Analytics account.
    4. Remove your personal Google Account from Google Analytics account.
    5. Log out of Google Analytics and log back in with your Andrew userID and password.

      Transferring Accounts
  1. Visit Google Analytics.
  2. Enter your Andrew email address and click Next.
  3. The CMU Web Login screen will display. Enter your Andrew userID and password.
  4. Click Sign In.

Complete the following steps to set up Google Analytics with your Andrew account:

  1. Click Set up for free.
  2. Enter an Account Name.
  3. Select your desired Account Data Sharing Settings and click Next.
  1. Click Web to measure web analytics and click Next.
  2. Click website under What would you like to track? and click Next.
  1. Enter the website Name.
  2. Enter the website URL.
  3. Click the Industry Category drop-down and select Jobs and Education.
  4. Click the Reporting Time Zone drop-down to specify your time zone.
  5. Follow the prompts to accept Google's terms of service.
  6. Click Create.

Avoid Collecting Restricted or Private Data

Google Analytics should not be configured to collect information classified as Restricted or Private based on ISO’s Guidelines for Data Classification. Avoid requesting information from visitors that could be classified as Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Examples include, but are not limited to: names, social security numbers, or email addresses.

AVOID SENDING PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII)

Non-CMS Sites

To use Google Analytics with their Andrew account for a site that is created with a product other than the CMS, (e.g., UserWeb or Google Sites), follow the steps below to get started:

  1. Request Google Analytics access for your Andrew account.
  2. Once access has been granted, you will receive an email confirmation.
  3. To transfer Google Analytics data from a personal account:
    1. Visit Google Analytics.
    2. Log in with your personal Google email and password.
    3. Click add a person and follow the prompts to add your Andrew email address to your personal Analytics account.
    4. Remove your personal Google Account from Google Analytics account.
    5. Log out of Google Analytics and log back in with your Andrew userID and password.

      Transferring Accounts
  1. Visit Google Analytics.
  2. Enter your Andrew email address and click Next.
  3. The CMU Web Login screen will display. Enter your Andrew userID and password.
  4. Click Sign In.

Complete the following steps to set up Google Analytics with your Andrew account:

  1. Click Set up for free.
  2. Enter an Account Name.
  3. Select your desired Account Data Sharing Settings and click Next.
  1. Click Web to measure web analytics and click Next.
  2. Click website under What would you like to track? and click Next.
  1. Enter the website Name.
  2. Enter the website URL.
  3. Click the Industry Category drop-down and select Jobs and Education.
  4. Click the Reporting Time Zone drop-down to specify your time zone.
  5. Follow the prompts to accept Google's terms of service.
  6. Click Create.

Under the Global Site Tag (gtag.js) section, copy the code that appears in the snippet. It begins with the text <!-- Global site tag (gtag.js) - Google Analytics -->and ends with </script>.


  1. From within your CMS site, click Add Content and select Block.
  2. Create a text block and name it google-analytics.
  3. Paste the Global Site Tag (gtag.js) code from the Google Analytics website. Note: If the code does not contain the value async="true" add ="true" to the Google code. For example:

    <script async="true" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-xxxxxxxxx-x"></script>
  4. Click Submit.
  5. Click the Setup option (left) in the CMS.
  6. Click the Code section and click Head.
  7. Click the Block field and browse for the block you just created.
  8. Click Submit. Note: You will need to perform a Full site publish for Google Analytics Tracking to be applied to every page.

Once Google Analytics confirms the tag has been added to your website, it will appear on your Google Analytics Admin page under the Connected Site Tags section.

  1. Visit Google Analytics.
  2. Log in with your Andrew userID and password, then authenticate with DUO when prompted.
  3. Click Admin (bottom left).
  4. Under Property click Tracking Info and then Tracking Code.
  5. Under Global Site Tag (gtag.js), highlight the code and copy it.
  6. Paste the code into a blank document.
  7. If the code does not contain the value async="true" add ="true" to the Google code. For example:

    <script async="true" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-xxxxxxxxx-x"></script>
  8.  Copy and paste the code from your document into the head of every webpage you want to track within your site. 
  9. Once Google Analytics confirms the tag has been added to your website, it will appear on your Google Analytics Admin page under the Connected Site Tags section.

Add a Global Site Tag to Google Sites

  1. Visit Google Analytics.
  2. Log in with your Andrew userID and password, then authenticate with DUO when prompted.
  3. Click Admin (bottom left).
  4. Under Property click Tracking Info and then Tracking Code.
  5. Under Global Site Tag (gtag.js), highlight the code and copy it.
  6. Paste the code into a blank document.
  7. If the code does not contain the value async="true" add ="true" to the Google code. For example:

    <script async="true" src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-xxxxxxxxx-x"></script>
  8. Return to your Google Site and edit it.
  9. Click the heading of the page you would like to track. 
  10. Under Insert, click Embed.
  11. Click Embed code.
  12. Copy and paste the code from your document into the head of every webpage you want to track within your site. 
  13. Once Google Analytics confirms the tag has been added to your website, it will appear on your Google Analytics Admin page under the Connected Site Tags section.

Resources

Take a Tour  

Google offers a variety of tours and other resources to help get you up to speed on how to use Google Analytics. Here are some that we recommend:

 

Reporting

Realtime Reports

Click Realtime (left) to view report data on visitors who are active on your site right now. This data set answers the following questions:

  • Where are your site visitors located in the world?
  • Where did they come from? Another site? A Google search? Direct link?
  • What content did they view?

    REALTIME REPORTS

Audience Reports

Click Audience (left) to view report data on visitors who have visited your site in the past. This data set answers the following questions:

  • What are the age and gender of visitors to your site?
  • What type of browser are they using?
  • Are they connecting from a mobile or desktop computer?

    AUDIENCE REPORTS

Acquisition Reports

Click Acquisition (left) to view report data on visitors who have visited your site in the past. This data set answers the following questions:

  • How much traffic has visited your site in the past?
  • Where did it come from? Another site? A Google search? Direct link? Social media?

    ACQUISITION REPORTS

Behavior Reports

Click Behavior (left) to view report data on visitors who have visited your site in the past. This data set answers the following questions:

  • What content are visitors consuming the most?
  • How much time do they spend on each page?
  • What information are they searching for?

    BEHAVIOR REPORTS

Learn More About Google Analytics

Google Analytics Academy

Google offers extensive training at various levels on Analytics. These courses are available at no cost to you. We recommend Google Analytics for Beginners as a great starting point for new users or those looking to brush up.

ANALYTICS ACADEMY

LinkedIn Learning

Your Andrew account also gives you access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers a variety of courses on Google Analytics.

Google Analytics Essential Training
ADVANCED GOOGLE ANALYTICS